Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop R. Walker Nickless and appointed Father John E. Keehner as Bishop of Sioux City. Bishop-elect Keehner, 59, is a priest of the Diocese of Youngstown and currently serves as pastor of four parishes:
Our Lady of Peace Parish in Ashtabula, Ohio
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Geneva, Ohio
Corpus Christi Parish in Conneaut, Ohio
St. Andrew Bobola Parish in Sheffield, Ohio
Bishop-elect Keehner’s ordination and installation Mass is scheduled for May 1 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Bishop Nickless, who has served the diocese since 2006, will continue to serve as the diocesan administrator of Sioux City until the installation. For more information go to www.scdiocese.org.
Congratulations and prayers for Bishop-elect Keehner and Bishop Nickless!
Bills advancing through the process
Intermittent bad weather hasn’t stopped work at the State Capitol. Last week, several bills were advanced by a subcommittee last week with the support of the Iowa Catholic Conference:
Both the Senate and House versions of the bill (HSB 139 and SF 220) providing needed conscience protections for medical professionals. Thanks to the Catholic Medical Association for putting us in touch with three medical students from Des Moines University, who did a great job of testifying.
HSB 140, a bill with incentives to encourage people on probation to work and get more education so their time on probation can end sooner.
HSB 141 allows victims of domestic violence or sexual violence to terminate a lease early if they provide landlords documentation of harm. This would reduce an economic barrier to seeking safety, so victims are not stuck with an abuser.
SF 207, the Senate’s version of the proposal requiring age verification for adult websites.
SSB 1057, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa which would allow a child to testify on video rather than face-to-face in court with the person accused of abusing them
The House Education Committee passed HF 391, which requires schools to present a video to students that shows prenatal human development throughout every stage of pregnancy. A similar bill has already passed the Senate Education Committee with the support of the ICC.
The Senate Education Committee passed SF 288, which requires state universities to make reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or who have recently given birth.
Newly-introduced bills of interest include:
HSB 145 – Support
The governor’s preschool and child care bill would allow community providers such as Catholic preschools to apply directly to the state Department of Education for funding. We’re glad the bill also keeps the current program in place where there is good collaboration and a contract between community providers and the public school district.
HF 278 – Support
The bill requires parental authorization for minors to create accounts on social media platforms.
USCCB president responds to letter from Pope Francis
“As successor to Saint Peter, you call not only every Catholic, but every Christian to what unites us in faith – offering the hope of Jesus Christ to every person, citizen and immigrant alike,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a letter responding to Pope Francis. The Holy Father wrote to the bishops of the United States affirming their work on behalf of migrants and refugees, and offered his support, moral encouragement, and prayers.
International aid still stopped
All U.S. foreign aid is still under review, impacting our most vulnerable sisters and brothers around the world. According to Catholic Relief Services, the administration issued an exception for lifesaving humanitarian assistance, but organizations are currently not able to access money to implement lifesaving programs.
Please continue to email your members of Congress, asking them to engage with the administration to ensure these critical programs can operate during the review process and ensure organizations can access the necessary funds to deliver lifesaving work.
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